Daily Readings & Thought for May 17th. “WHICH IS AT WORK IN YOU”

Today’s readings.. (Joshua 1), (Isaiah 7), (1 Thessalonians 1,2)

We have three stirring portions of Scripture to challenge and encourage us today. Paul tells the Thessalonians how they have been “entrusted with the gospel … not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never came with words of flattery” [2 v.4,5]. Our sense of God’s all-knowing presence is an essential, indeed the main ingredient, in all our deepest thoughts.

And that original gospel, which includes the ‘good news’ of God’s presence and work in us and in the world – needs to be an increasingly central part of our thinking and doing. Paul tells them you “accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God which is at work in you believers. “[v.13] It cannot “work in” those who rarely make the time to read and reflect on what they read.

God’s word through Moses was the essential foundation in the formation of the nation as they entered the promised land. Moses bequeathed Joshua and all the nation the inspired record of the work and presence of God from the beginning of creation. As this record is completed Moses dies and God tells Joshua, “This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night … be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous … Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you …” [1 v.8,9]

The ultimate promised land and these words of God to Joshua (the name Joshua is ‘Jesus’ in the Greek language) should echo in the hearts of believers today. Our reading in Isaiah has a parallel message for us. The prophet is told to go out and challenge the fearful king Ahaz in Jerusalem for his “heart … and the heart of the people shook as trees of the forest shake before the wind” [7 v.2]. The prophet is to tell the king, ”Be careful, be quiet, do not fear ….if you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all” [v.4,9] That is also a message for today.

Finally we can link God’s words through Isaiah with some more of Paul’s words that we read. In encouraging the Thessalonians he told them he was “constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope …” [1 v,2,3] If there was a Paul here today – could he write to us in the same terms? How wonderful if he could stress that God’s word “which is at work in you’ is completing that work, because we are “strong and courageous” as we are about to enter the ultimate promised land, God’s kingdom under Christ.

A small group of young Christadelphian brothers have taken the time to produce this valuable resource for the brotherhood and beyond, they are using the Bible reading planner developed by Brother Robert Roberts called The Bible Companion. The Bible Companion (or Bible Reading Planner) is a guide developed by the Christadelphians to aid reading the Bible. It was first produced by Robert Roberts when he was just 14 years of age, in about 1853, and revised by him over a number of years into its current format. Most Christadelphians use this plan each day and it was designed to help you read the old testament once and the new testament twice each year. These readings which we feature are recorded using the KJV or the NKJV of the Bible and we hope will be helpful to those who may struggle with time or who have poor eyesight.

Daily Readings

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